A good hard look

When we first considered the key questions for our research, insights into working from home were a top priority. After all, weren't we told that the pandemic had permanently changed work life? Wasn't remote working, or at least a hybrid approach, the ‘new normal’? Surprisingly, the results suggest otherwise. Nearly a third of people of working age never work from home, and only 9% reported working from home all the time.

For those who do work from home, we wanted to gauge their satisfaction with their workspaces.

If you work from home, being satisfied with the ability to change the layout of spaces proved to be a better predictor of home happiness than having a dedicated office. Home workers with an office report being happy at home 75% of the time. However, home workers who are happy with the ability to change their layout are happy more often – 84% of the time.

Home happiness rate amongst those who work from home

Down with the (home) office

This suggests that while having space to work is essential for home happiness, it's even more important to have adaptable spaces than fixed spaces, such as a home office room.

For those dissatisfied with their work setups, only 5% said that, given £10,000 to renovate a room, they would choose a home office. This implies that home offices may not be the priority we initially assumed and, according to the data, we might be better off creating spaces we love that can be adapted for multiple purposes.

Open-plan is still king

Of all the rooms in a home, 30% of us would prioritise investing in our kitchen over anywhere else. Interestingly, that figure jumps to 74% for those that don’t have an open-plan kitchen.

Just 22% of homeowners with an open-plan kitchen would invest in improving that existing space. This confirms that kitchens, and open-plan kitchens in particular, are still the most coveted room in the home. We’re looking for spaces where we can both connect with others and carry out functional tasks.

Living spaces like lounges, snugs and dining spaces, are up there alongside open-plan spaces as the most important to us. 65% of us say these living spaces are where we connect with others and half of us say they’re where we best switch off and relax.

Open-plan kitchens limit the barriers between different household members, which in turn facilitates more connection, and home happiness. This suggests that our wellbeing could be improved by embracing open-plan kitchens and living spaces as the heart of the home.

Home gym – don’t sweat it

Another room that received a lot of pandemic attention when people couldn’t reach their regular workout space was the home gym. We wanted to know, when all is said and done, does it really make any difference?

We found that those with a home gym were not likely to be happier with their home than those without. The more significant factor is whether you feel your home meets your needs. In other words, is it a space that you can share with others and that supports your day to day routines?Those without a gym who said their home met all their needs are happy at home 85% of the time and those with a gym 88% of the time. So, if you’re looking to renovate and make a meaningful impact, prioritise your ideal kitchen or living space over the much-discussed home gym.

A good hard look

The most happy homeowners are more likely to say that their homes reflect their true selves than those who are unhappy at home.

Just as in 2019, the research suggests that making your home more ‘you’ can greatly improve the extent to which you can relax and switch off, as well as feel proud to host. Embrace your individuality and focus on creating interiors that genuinely delight and inspire you.

Remember that it isn’t just you though, and you need to consider how to create spaces that reflect all those that you live with.

Proud to be home

A 2019 report by Denmark's renowned Happiness Research Institute identified pride in one's home as a core pillar of happiness. Our findings support their work. Among the happiest homeowners, 90% say they feel proud of their homes most of the time, nearly five times as often as the least happy group (17%). This effect remains strong even among those who aren't satisfied with their lives.

In fact, 'Pride' emerged as a key component of overall home happiness for 2023. 70% of respondents who said their home reflects who they are said their home makes them happy. Conversely, just 13% of those who don’t feel their home reflects them feel proud of their home.

Views, glorious views

It’s well documented that outdoor spaces, such as gardens, balconies, or doorstep parks play a crucial role in our wellbeing.

One of our most significant findings in 2020 was that the views from our homes were a more substantial predictor of our happiness than the amount of sunlight available indoors. The importance of views has persisted and we want to highlight it again. Our research shows that people unhappy with their views are four times more likely to say their homes make them sad compared to those satisfied with their vistas.

Collectively, we seem to acknowledge the value of gardens. After our kitchens, we think that gardens are the space where £10,000 would make the most difference. This may indicate that we’re putting more of a premium on gardens since the pandemic.

Garden effect

Garden studio: overhyped or underrated?

We also examined the effect of having a garden studio vs having a garden in general has on happiness. The results didn't suggest that garden studios significantly improve happiness, given that gardens already contribute considerably to wellbeing.

84% of respondents with a garden studio reported always or often feeling happy, compared to 75% of those with a studio-free garden. While there is a slight difference, it's not significant enough to suggest a direct link. The disparity could be attributed to extraneous factors like a higher income that allows for the construction of a garden room. In fact, it would seem that the presence of a garden alone is the factor that drives the difference.

Baby it’s cold…in here

We discussed the fact that half of us always have something to worry about when it comes to our home, but aside from bills, what’s keeping us up at night?

Up to 75% of us are dissatisfied with the temperature of our homes in winter. This links directly to our growing concerns around the cost to run our homes and the energy efficiency of our housing stock.

This finding underscores the need for homes that are more efficient and cost less to run in the long term. It may not be as sexy as the aesthetic work of interior design, but if we get the functionality of our homes right first and foremost we’ll be better poised to be happy in them. That means prioritising good plumbing, good insulation and less maintenance.

Rather than investing in a fancy finish, consider spending some of your home upgrade budget on thermal improvements to your home – like insulation or glazing replacement. These choices are likely to lead to happier homes in the long run.

Stress this mess

Of those who say their home makes them stressed, 50% cite not having enough storage, not having an area to call their own and experiencing conflicts about how spaces are used. This was a statistically significant finding versus those who did not feel stressed by their home. What does this tell us? To have a home that helps us avoid conflict and supports us in times of stress, we need to create tidy, private spaces within our households to retreat to.

And remember, we also found that those who describe their home as organised are more likely to be happy at home.

A nation of worriers

For those least content with their homes, 92% say there's always something to worry about when it comes to their home. They are more than 10 times as likely to feel this way compared to those who are happiest with their homes.

Across the board, when we control for satisfaction with life overall, 53% agree that there is something to worry about regarding their homes. We don’t think that’s good enough, so we delved deeper to pinpoint precisely where our home worries lie.

It’s hardly surprising, but worth noting, that one of the things we’re most worried about is the (increasing) cost of running our homes. And even for those who aren’t actively worried about the cost to run their homes, a third still list their priority for home improvement as bill-reduction above adding space, comfort and value. In turn, reducing the cost to run your home is likely to add value to your home and improve your level of comfort within it. As we’ve seen, comfort and cost are things that most people, including future buyers, are likely to place a premium on.

Cutting costs or adding value

If you were looking to renovate your home this year, rank these factors in terms of importance

The current economic climate has made us more cautious spenders, prompting us to reassess our financial priorities. Across all demographic groups, reducing energy bills has emerged as our top priority.

Again, this is no shock. In the UK we have some of the leakiest and draughtiest homes in Europe. Too much of the heat we’re using to warm our homes is escaping through cracks in windows and flimsy walls. To reduce running costs, you need to understand your home’s energy efficiency and create a targeted retrofit plan to address them in the long term.

Retrofitting your home to make it more efficient will also improve your home comfort, which was the next priority for people after reducing energy bills.

Renovation priority for this year